Photography

Maddie Gunton

Photo of two men facing each other outdoors. One wears a leather jacket and jeans, the other a green vest over a gray hoodie. Brick wall in the background.

Shelf Life

I am Maddie, a portrait photographer who uses visual imagery to tell stories and bring feelings to life. Located in Cambridge and London. I specialise in capturing the essence and unique qualities of my subjects through my photography.

My passion for photography stems from my desire to create timeless memories and capture the beauty of the world through my lens. My love for fashion can be seen throughout my photography, capturing my subject's authentic identity is important to me.


I created Shelf Life to convey how vintage clothing is more than just pieces of material, it is a lifestyle. My work consists of documentary portraits printed onto sustainable, recycled posters in a variety of sizes with some in pre-loved picture frames; everything used in Shelf Life has been sustainably resourced and pre-loved. I took the photographs with authenticity in mind, hence the use of natural lighting in the city where my models live, with a digital camera to capture the true connections fashion can bring to people.

Wearing vintage fashion has become a trendy aesthetic that a lot of people enjoy but there is a community of people that spend hours rummaging through rails and scrolling online stores to find one-of-a-kind pieces for their unique styles. The lives I captured in these photos are part of this wide community.

Shelf Life has not only been able to showcase vintage fashion at its best but also fast fashion at its worst. My photographs cast light on the harmful impact fast fashion has on the environment, I am presenting it in a way that blurs the lines of tradition by using a scattered collage layout that does not follow the standard 150cm hang height.

Photo of young woman with wavy hair wearing a striped shirt and holding a black leather jacket, standing against a textured stone wall.
Photo of young man in a leather jacket leans against a stone railing on outdoor steps, with historic buildings in the background.
Close-up photo of  a blue denim jacket with a white Carhartt label beside a gray jacket with a brown Carhartt leather patch, both showing front pockets.
Photo of young man in a brown jacket and black pants sits on a stone bench against a brick wall, wearing white sneakers with black stripes.
Photo of young woman in a black leather jacket stands against a brick wall, hands in pockets, looking slightly upwards.
Hand-me-downs share memories Fashion has no Shelf Life Buying vintage clothing is a lifestyle It is more than just a piece of fabric Memories last forever and so can fashion